"If Matusz continues to pitch well this month (we're told), he could win a spot in the Orioles' starting rotation.

"That's almost entirely irrelevant. It doesn't really matter who's in the Orioles' rotation this season, because the Orioles will be lucky to finish in fourth place. The only thing that matters is finding three or four good young starting pitchers for the future. And discovering that Matusz is one of those rare creatures can happen whether he's starting for the Orioles or starting for their triple-A affiliate in Norfolk, Virginia."

* Baseball America believes the Orioles will not, in fact, be lucky enough to finish in fouth place in the American League East, predicting them to finish last again this season.

"Best-Case Scenario: RHP Jake Arrieta and LHP Brian Matusz bounce back, and LHP Zach Britton continues to develop, allowing Baltimore to feel good again about its rotation of the future.

"Worst-Case Scenario: The Orioles waste time worrying about a few extra wins in the short term rather than building for the long term."

* In his offseason review of the Orioles, MLB Trade Rumors' Ben Nicholson-Smith projects a rather broad win total of 60-75 wins for the team this season.

"Despite the additions to the pitching staff, the Orioles are likely headed for a 60-75 win season unless multiple young Major Leaguers make substantial strides. Elite prospects Manny Machado and Dylan Bundy will resume their progression through the minor leagues, and with continued development from Major Leaguers such as Wieters and Matusz more hope may exist in Baltimore a year from now. There's just not much to dream on yet."